I never ever would have thought that riding an actual western pleasure trained horse would be so hard to do.

A little background on me, I am taking lessons after having my confidence shattered when I thrown from a horse a few years ago. Up until about 5 years ago I didn't take lessons, though I wanted to, only to improve my seat, balance and overall communication but didn't know where to look or who to ask. I was lucky to find one that really has been working with me and basically letting me know 'you can do this, don't give up'.

Anyway, I own an 18 year old QH mare, super girl, and is great for teaching me to trust again. I also have at my disposal just a select couple of horses to choose from as lesson mounts from the barn I board in, my mare was going to be a part of a lesson program this summer but it hasn't materialized and it probably won't which is why I didn't ride her on Friday night because my horse was supposed to be gone by now.

The horse I rode, is completely WP trained and though I really do like that about her, her gaits are as bone jarring. I also suffer from a bad lower back and the movements of really being able to "move" with the horse has inhibited me a bit because I'm afraid of getting myself out of alignment and have to go see the Chiro again. I can move comfortably with my own horse, she doesn't have a long strided walk, (she's not arthritic either). So I was loping on this WP mare friday night and I'll be darned if I just couldn't get in time with this girl, I tried it 3 times and it still didn't work. I thought several of my teeth were working loose because it was so rough! I have been told by my instructor that it will come the more I ride this horse, but seriously? I'm not sure I want to ride her again so soon! I really didn't not enjoy my lesson on Friday night. I woke up this morning and I was so stiff and sore in my hips and lower back!

Thanks Buck, I'll try. I don't want to go too fast and get paranoid about losing control. It honestly felt as though it was a rough rough trot, but I was told that this is her WP lope, I'm thinking are you serious?? I totally enjoy loping on my own horse, it's great fun and would do it alot more too, but dang, this was just the worst experience I ever had!!! But I will give it another go next time. Thank you.

I am going to try to get a lesson in this weekend alone, I ususally am sharing the hour with my BFF, but she sliced her hand while washing a glass in the sink so she can't ride at the moment, so if my instr. Says yes, then I am going to show her how to operate my digi. Cam. In the movie mode and see if I can't get it recorded and put it up here for you guys to see.

I can't describe it, it felt like a trot in the back and a rocking up and down motion in the front. The all too common "trope" but if that's truly what it was then I sure don't like it.

Please bear in mind that I am still a little uneasy when it comes to the lope and my form will most likely not be that good. Please also remember, I have a bad lower back and am a little inhibited in my movements. I am not by any means an accomplished rider so I will most likely look stiff or something. It's easy to say "move with the horse" but when you're afraid you're going to throw your back out and then fall out of the saddle from muscle spasms, moving with the horse is not easy to do. Just giving you a heads up. We will see what happens.

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